The Game released a massive double-album last week, star-studded with guest appearances by the likes of Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, and Kanye West. It's hardly the first time The Game's release went deeper than the singles.
Often times, the most rewarding tracks are the deeper, overlooked cuts. The Game, who has released nine albums and fourteen mixtapes, has no shortage of tracks you probably missed when they were first released. Those are the songs we're going to focus on today.
There's tons of one-offs that we can't even necessarily attribute to official Game releases, and along with the lesser-known tracks on his actual albums, it was tough to narrow this list down to ten tracks. At any rate, enjoy some of Game's deep cuts for this rendition of Throwback Thursday.
"Like Father, Like Son" featuring Busta Rhymes
The Documentary is so well-known that it's hard to consider any of its songs to be 'deep,' but we're going to ease into this. The finale track on Game's major label debut featured Busta Rhymes and some bars that are certainly more emotional than what we're used to hearing from the gangster rapper.
"Cali Boyz"
While The Documentary is considered by many to be Game's debut, he was definitely making music before the album that boasted "Hate It or Love It." Get a little slice of some early Game with "Cali Boyz."
"200 Bars and Runnin'"
If you didn't think The Game had bars, think again. There are a ton of these tracks, but this one might be the most potent. There are a plethora of noteworthy lines in this one, and Game flexes on everyone in the industry through nine minutes of no-frills rappin'.
"Da Shit"
The title Doctor's Advocate is a nod to Dr. Dre, and Game definitely channels his inner Andre with this cut. It may be produced by DJ Khalil, but this is classic Chronic 2001 sounding material.
"Letter to the King" featuring Nas
In terms of socio-political message, this might be The Game's best work. Alongside the great Nas, the two rappers discuss race relations in America. The final verse, both on the song and the album LAX, stands as one of the greatest verses in Game's career.
"The word nigger, is nothin' like nigga
Don't sound shit a like, like Game, like Jigga
One came before the other, like aim and pull the trigga
One is slang for my brother, one is hang and take a picture
The rope ain't tight enough, he still alive, go fix it
Pour some gasoline on him, call his daughters black bitches
Make 'em pick cotton, while they mama cleanin' up the kitchen
Same cotton in white T's, that's the cotton they was pickin'
If Dr. King marched today would Bill Gates march
I know Obama would but would Hilary take part
Great minds think great thoughts
The pictures I paint, make the Mona Lisa look like fake art
I feel the pain of Nelson Mandela
Cause when it rains it pours, I need Rihanna's Umbrella
For Coretta Scott's tear drops, when she got the phone call
That the future just took a fuckin' head shot
I wonder why Jesse Jackson ain't catch him before his body dropped
Would he give me the answer
Probably not"
"Black Wallstreet" featuring Juelz Santana & Jim Jones
If you're really a fan of The Game, then you know about his record label, Black Wall Street Records. On a song that takes the same name, Game invited a couple Harlem rappers in Juelz Santana and Jim Jones to join in for a mixtape cut.
"My Turn"
You can't talk about The Game extensively without discussing the G-Unit beef. Here's a diss track he made for his former peers:
"When I say I killed you, it's simple and plain
Don't say shit about Dre and don't mention The Game"
"Taylor Made" featuring Wiz Khalifa
One thing that you have to honor about The Game is his ability to collaborate with other artists. On 2011's Purp & Patron mixtape, he took a page out of Wiz Khalifa's book while riding with him on the track.
"Red" featuring Redman
The Game reps the color red so heavy, how could he not do a track with Redman? On 2011's Hoodmorning (No Typo): Candy Coronas, the two traded verses on a soul-sampling Cool & Dre instrumental.
"Blood Dreams" featuring Snoop Dogg
The Game and Snoop have a similar chemistry that Dre and Snoop have. With opposite voices, the alternating of verses comes across in a potent manner when these two bless a track together. Over a funky, piano-driven west coast beat, these two stars of the left coast flex their stuff.